We had the good fortune of connecting with Toni Chiarini and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toni, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Be genuine and be valuable. Your clients will only respect you as much as you respect yourself. In the beginning, I was a little timid about running my business. I was scared to raise my prices, to hold my clients accountable if they violated our written agreement and for these reasons, I “let things slide” at times and ended up giving a lot of my time for free. Now, I realize that I was doing a disservice to myself and to my clients. By not creating a clear process and set-in-stone policies, it created ambiguity for my clients and at the same time, turned me into a freebie workhorse. If you want to succeed as a business owner, you must first respect yourself as a business owner. This means respecting your time, value, and expertise. Don’t waiver on the things that are important to you.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have been in this industry for over ten years now and I love it! I am very fortunate to be doing what I love but in no way, shape, or form has this been a smooth road. This journey has definitely been an emotional roller coaster, to say the least, with many struggles along the way! These struggles had me questioning my path and if I had made the right decision to start my own business. I do believe fear has a way of creating a false reality and for most of us that can be paralyzing. It keeps us from moving forward. We all know change and growth can be painful but when it’s all said and done, we know it’s worth it.

Many things set me apart. For starters, my clients know me for my attention to proper form. It is very important for my clients to learn the correct way to perform any exercise. In my opinion that should be a top priority for any fitness professional. Secondly I am known for my my glute workouts. Everyone wants a bigger backside these days! What sets my glute programs apart from all the others is my results. However, this is just how I pull them in! My real goal is to help women see their overall strength. It’s not just about a big butt and a small waist! I meet so many women who feel they aren’t capable of doing certain exercises or put limits on what their bodies can accomplish. I help show them this is a misconception. This is what truly sets me apart because once I gain their trust, they believe in me which in turn, helps them believe in themselves. There is no greater feeling for me. I take pride in showing women that strong is beautiful because that’s what we are, strong and beautiful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Beltline of course. The High Museum and Botanical Gardens are a must. Rooftop drinks at Gypsy Kitchen and Estrella. As far as food there’s so many options! I’d say Buttermilk Kitchen and the General Muir for brunch. The Vortex for an amazing burger. And for dinner the Garden Room and Storico Fresco!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
EJ Adams at Team Fitness Athletics. He has given me the opportunity to really grow my business. He welcomed me to be a part of his team yet allowed me to build my own brand at the same time. From day one he has shown me nothing but support as well as helping me grow my business along the way. So for this, I would like to give him a shoutout!

Website: Tonichiarinifitness.com
Instagram: Tonichiarini

Image Credits
toyaashayla_photography

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